Your FEET could be trying to tell you if you've got serious health problems

Experts say the state of our feet can reveal a number of other health issues

• 19:00, 31 AUG 2015
• UPDATED 21:46, 31 AUG 2015
• BY NATASHA HOLT

They may spend most of the year hidden away under socks, but our feet are in fact a window to what’s really happening in our bodies.

“We neglect our feet and put up with signs and symptoms that, in any other part of the body, would have us running to medical professionals,” says podiatrist Jake Heath from One Wellness Clinic in Wimpole Street, London.

“Yet noticeable changes can be indicators of wider health issues.”

So it might be time to take a closer look at those tootsies…

Enlarged big toe

It could be… gout

Not only the preserve of men with pot bellies and a rich diet. “Gout is a build-up of razor-sharp uric acid crystals in a joint,” explains Jake. “This can be caused by being overweight, certain medications or a high protein diet, but it can also be genetic.” For most people the first sign comes in the form of a sore, red, swollen big toe.

Painful: Gout can be genetic or caused by diet

What to do: If you have pain in your big toe or another joint, such as the knee or elbow, see your GP, who can test for gout. Icing the joint and non-steroid anti-inflammatories can reduce pain. A low-protein diet, drinking lots of water and losing weight can also help.

Cold feet

It could be… hypothyroidism

Not that moment when you slip into bed – more if you suffer from particularly chilly hands and feet. Hypo­thyroidism is known as an underactive thyroid gland.

Cold feet can also be caused by Raynaud’s disease. “This is where the blood vessels to the toes and fingers are hyper­­sensitive to temper­­ature, stress, smoking and medication,” says Jake. “They constrict, reducing blood flow and making them appear white. Later, when the blood flow returns, they can be red, swollen and itchy.”

What to do: Other common signs of hypo­­thyroidism are tiredness, weight gain, aching muscles and depression. If you have these too see your GP for a thyroid function test. For Raynaud’s, avoid extreme temperatures.

Red ulcers or numbness

It could be… diabetes

Numbness or loss of sensation around the feet and red ulcers that don’t heal are major clues to undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.

“The start of persistent numbness and/or tingling in the toes can be the sign of peripheral nerve damage associated with type 2 diabetes,” says Jake.

“This can increase the chance of developing severe ulcers as the skin tissue breaks down unnoticed and exposes underlying layers of skin.Eventually these ulcers may require long-term antibiotics and in extreme cases amputations.”

What to do: Diabetes symptoms include a persistent thirst, needing to urinate more often, tiredness and weight loss. See your doctor at once if you notice these signs.

Club-shaped nails

It could be… a lung condition

Have your nails changed shape? If so, this could
be more than a cosmetic problem.

“Cardiovascular, lung or gastrointestinal problems, can lead to the clubbed appearance of all the nails on the toes and fingers,” says Jake. “The shape will change and they appear distorted.” This could be due to a cut in the blood’s oxygen levels.

What to do: “Speaking to your GP or podiatrist about changes in colour, or shape, of nails is a good idea,” says Jake.

Nail it: Keep an eye on your talons

Hairless toes

It could be… vascular disease

Few of us would want hairy feet. But toes totally devoid of hair can be a problem. If the heart is struggling to pump enough blood to your extremities it will cause problems with your circulation. That will make the skin look shiny and hair will not grow there.

“Discoloured feet which appear red, white or purple with thick nails, loss of hair and thin, brittle, or shiny skin, can all be signs of underlying circulatory issues, or peripheral vascular disease,” says Jake.

What to do: See your GP or a podiatrist if you notice any of these symptoms.

Thickened, crumbling or discoloured nails

It could be… Psoriasis

“Nail pitting may be a sign of psoriasis, a chronic skin condition caused by an overactive immune system,” says Jake. Psoriasis affects 1–2% of the population and can be linked to stress, medication or genetics. Jake says half of patients with psoriasis will have nail problems. Other sym­ptoms are flaking, inflammation and thick white, silvery or red skin patches.

What to do: Treatments include steroid creams, light therapy and oral medications. If your nails are pitted see a GP.

Sore toe joints

It could be… rheumatoid arthritis

Small joints in the hands and feet are often the first to be affected by this auto-immune condition.

“The joint doesn’t move as well as it should,” says Jake. “People with other forms of arthritis have stiff joints in the morning but with rheumatoid arthritis it can be several hours before they ease. There can be swelling and fluid in the joint, which makes them puffy, and the toes often feel sensitive and tender.

“Over time it causes severe damage to the cartilage and joints, leading to a loss of movement and intense pain.”

What to do: See your GP immediately as early diagnosis is key to preventing damage to the joints and cartilage.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/your-feet-could-trying-tell-6357109

This post is on Healthwise

Natural Cures for Psoriasis

November 1, 2014

This post is on Healthwise

Living day in and day out with psoriasis—known for its silvery scales and itchy, painful red patches (plaques) on the skin—is hard enough for the more than 7.5 million Americans who have the disease.

But researchers are now finding that people with psoriasis also may be more likely to develop other inflammation-based conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. People with psoriasis should be screened for these conditions and talk to their doctors about ways to reduce other risk factors they may have for these diseases.

Problem: Even though drugs, such as apremilast (Otezla) and adalimumab (Humira), that inhibit parts of the immune system involved in psoriasis are now available, any therapy that suppresses immunity can increase the risk for infections, gastrointestinal upset and other conditions.

More Help for Psoriasis

1. Real Relief for Psoriasis (and Eczema, Too)
2. Psoriasis Sufferers: Keep an Eye on Blood Sugar!
3. Workouts That Help Prevent Psoriasis
4. Beer Drinkers Beware: Psoriasis Risk Ahead
5. Ancient Herb Banishes Psoriasis
6. Pycogenol Helps Psoriasis

Solution: There's mounting evidence that natural therapies can be used to reduce overall inflammation and help support the immune system. These drug-free approaches can improve the effectiveness of psoriasis medication and sometimes even eliminate the need for it (with your doctor's approval). First, try the dietary approaches in this—they should result in improvements that increase over time.­Supplements also can be used.

PUTTING YOUR DIET TO WORK

Eating the right foods (and using supplements when needed) can increase your ability to fight psoriasis on a systemic level by reducing inflammation and helping regulate your immune system—two key factors linked to psoriasis. My advice…

• Go for anti-inflammatory foods. Americans eat lots of processed foods—most of which promote inflammation in the body. Meanwhile, whole, nutrient-packed foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables help attack the inflammatory process that is increased in psoriasis.

Good choices: Beets, blueberries, kale or other leafy greens, salmon, garbanzo beans, quinoa, lentils, nuts and ginger. For other food choices, go to Psoriasis.org, and search "anti-inflammatory diet."

• Get more vitamin D. People with psoriasis, like many Americans, are often deficient in vitamin D, which is known to help regulate immune function and inhibit inflammation. That's why it's important to consume foods that contain vitamin D, such as oysters, shrimp, salmon, sardines and any fortified milk. Vitamin D supplements also may be needed. If you have psoriasis, ask your doctor for a blood test to check your vitamin D level.

• Spice things up. Turmeric, which gives mustard its bright yellow color and curry its distinctive flavor, contains the medicinal compound curcumin.

A 2013 study published in the journal BioFactors showed that turmeric helps healthy, new skin cells form more quickly. If you don't like curry or mustard (you would need to eat 1 g to 3 g a day to get the therapeutic effect), you can try turmeric in supplement form—400 mg to 600 mg two to three times a day.

Talk to your doctor first if you take antacids, diabetes drugs or blood thinners, since turmeric may interfere with these medications—and if you have a history of gallstones (turmeric may cause stomach upset in these people).

• Load up on omega-3s. Get lots of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. Daily amounts needed to fight psoriasis: Seven ounces of salmon…a small avocado…or two tablespoons of ground flaxseed (store in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage). If you don't like fish and other omega-3-rich foods, consider taking 2 g to 3 g daily of a fish oil supplement. Choose one that has more EPA than DHA, and check with your doctor first if you take a blood thinner or diabetes medication—fish oil could interact with them.

A 2014 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that among many common supplements taken by people with psoriasis, fish oil—which may reduce tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a protein associated with systemic inflammation—demonstrated the greatest benefit.

FOR CRACKED SKIN AND PLAQUES

Among the more troubling symptoms of psoriasis are dry, cracked skin (that may even bleed) and the red, scaly, itchy plaques that can develop on the elbows, scalp, torso and other areas.

What works best…

• Oregon grape root. When used topically, this powerful, little-­known antibacterial herb (also called Mahonia) helps reduce skin irritation and topical infections common to people with psoriasis.

A 2013 research review published in the British Journal of Dermatology showed that Oregon grape root reduced the development of red, raised psoriasis plaques and healed psoriasis-related cracked skin.

Oregon grape root is found in tincture form at health-food stores, and you can add two or three drops to your favorite skin cream. The herb also can be found in over-the-counter creams containing 10% Mahonia, which has been shown to help control mild-to-moderate psoriasis plaques.

FOR ITCHING AND FLAKING…

Soaking in the high concentration of mineral salts found in the Dead Sea in Israel is a centuries-old remedy for the itching and flaking associated with psoriasis.

What helps: Adding one-quarter to one-half cup of Dead Sea (or Epsom) salts to a warm (not hot) bath has been shown to ease itching skin and remove dead, flaking skin cells. Dead Sea salts have a higher concentration of minerals than Epsom salts and are available online and at health-food stores and spas. 

A substantial body of research, including a study published in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment, has shown that psoriasis patients who regularly take such baths report significant improvements in itch and irritation levels within three weeks. For even greater benefits: Mix the salts with colloidal oatmeal, such as Aveeno. Take these baths two to three times a week.

Source: April Abernethy, ND, naturopathic physician and interim chief scientific and medical officer at the National Psoriasis Foundation in Portland, Oregon. She is also a member of the board of directors at International Dermatology Outcome Measures, an organization working to establish common measurements of treatment effectiveness and outcomes.

http://www.bottomlinepublications.com/content/article/health-a-healing/natural-cures-for-psoriasis
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Real Relief for Psoriasis (and Eczema, too)

August 1, 2013

Combining conventional and natural therapies offers the best treatment…

 

Psoriasis can be painful, itchy and embarrassing…and even trigger anxiety and depression. Plus, it’s often stubbornly resistant to treatment, forcing sufferers to try one thing after another. But for the estimated 7 to 8 million Americans with psoriasis, there’s finally some welcome news…

 

A better way: The most recent research shows that by combining conventional medical care with an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle changes, people with psoriasis can have fewer and less severe outbreaks. Plus, psoriasis patients using natural approaches often are more responsive to medication—enabling them to use less, which reduces side effects and cost. Added benefit: These same diet and lifestyle approaches also help treat eczema, another inflammatory skin disease.

 

Best drug-free ways to ease psoriasis, based on recent research and my day-to-day work with patients…

• Limit high-GI foods. The glycemic index (GI) measures how fast different foods elevate blood sugar (glucose) and insulin in the body. The danger: High-GI foods trigger a very rapid insulin response, and high insulin levels have been linked to psoriasis. High-GI foods have inflammatory effects on the skin, making it more prone to psoriasis. Sugar and white flour are high-GI foods…vegetables, beans and whole grains are low-GI foods.
  
  What you can do: Eat meals that consist of 50% vegetables, 25% protein (fish, chicken, turkey, lean meat or eggs) and 25% unrefined carbohydrates (such as sweet potatoes or squash)—a mix that’s low GI and anti-inflammatory. Limit your intake of refined carbohydrates and dairy products. In addition, to keep blood glucose levels balanced, be sure to eat two or three snacks daily, such as fruit, nuts or seeds.

• Try fish oil. In a study conducted at the University of Michigan Medical Center, psoriasis patients who received phototherapy (a common treatment for psoriasis that involves exposure to ultraviolet-B light) and took fish oil supplements had a greater decrease in plaques (raised red patches on the skin) than participants who received phototherapy and olive oil capsules.
  
  Why it works: Fish oil may reduce tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), a compound involved in systemic inflammation that’s more active in psoriasis patients.
  
  What you can do: Take 1 g to 4 g of fish oil daily (with a meal).*
  
  Also helpful: Research conducted in Russia showed that supplementing daily with the antioxidants vitamin E (50 mg), coenzyme Q10 (50 mg) and selenium (48 mcg) improved symptoms in people hospitalized with erythrodermic psoriasis, the most severe form of the disease, which affects most of the body.

• Find out if gluten worsens your symptoms. Research shows that about one in seven people with psoriasis may have a sensitivity to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.
  
  In a study conducted by Swedish researchers, 30 of 33 psoriasis patients with an antibody to gliadin (a subprotein in gluten) improved on a gluten-free diet. When the patients started eating gluten again, 18 of the 30 needed to increase their medication because of worsening psoriasis symptoms.
  
  What you can do: Ask your doctor for a blood test called the Deamidated Gliadin Peptide Antibody Test. If the test result is positive, consider eating a gluten-free diet for three months to see if your condition improves.

• Exercise regularly. Moderate exercise improves several risk factors for psoriasis, such as inflammation and obesity.
  
  What you can do: Exercise five to seven times a week, at a moderate level (such as brisk walking or even vigorous gardening), for 20 minutes each time. I also advise strength-training two times a week and flexibility exercises, such as yoga or Pilates, two times a week.
  
  Caution: Heat intolerance can be a problem for people with psoriasis (they often have a dysfunction of sweat glands due to psoriasis plaques)—so avoid exercising in warm, humid environments and keep well-hydrated.

• Lose weight. A 14-year study conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital linked a higher body mass index, or BMI (a ratio of height to weight), to a higher risk for psoriasis. Compared with people who had a normal BMI, those in the overweight range had a 40% higher risk for psoriasis…and those who were obese had a 48% higher risk.
  
  What you can do: Two of the strategies already discussed—a low-GI diet and regular exercise—can help you lower your BMI, which may minimize psoriasis flare-ups.

• Manage stress. A study from the University of Montreal linked higher stress levels to more severe psoriasis symptoms. And in research conducted at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who listened to guided stress-reduction exercises during phototherapy had accelerated clearing of their skin.
  
  What you can do: To help relieve tension and anxiety, take slow, deep breaths (inhaling until your lungs feel full, and exhaling until your lungs feel empty) for a few minutes several times a day. Other ways to relieve stress include meditation, yoga and tai chi.

• Sleep better. Research shows that poor sleep worsens inflammation and weakens the skin’s protective surface, which can dry it out.
  
  What you can do: Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, allowing yourself seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. For deeper sleep: Write down your worries at bedtime (and leave them on the dresser for the next day)…don’t eat or drink liquids one to two hours before bed…and keep your bedroom quiet and dark and at a comfortable temperature.

 

WHAT IS PSORIASIS?

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease caused by an overactive immune system.

The most common form of the disease is plaque psoriasis—dry, itchy red (and sometimes painful) patches, with silvery-white scales, usually on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back. Up to one-third of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis, with stiff, swollen, painful joints.

*Check with your doctor before starting any new supplements—especially if you take a blood thinner or other medication or have a chronic health condition.

Source: Valori Treloar, MD, CNS, a board-certified dermatologist and a certified nutrition specialist of the American College of Nutrition. She is the founder and owner of Integrative Dermatology, a clinic in Newton, Massachusetts, that integrates conventional medicine and alternative therapies, and is coauthor, with Alan C. Logan, ND, of The Clear Skin Diet: How to Defeat Acne and Enjoy Healthy Skin (Cumberland House).

http://www.bottomlinepublications.com/content/article/health-a-healing/real-relief-for-psoriasis-and-eczema-too

Hidden Causes of Heart Disease

Hidden Causes of Heart Disease—Six Little-Known Risk Factors

March 15, 2013

There are well-known risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, being overweight and a family history of early heart attacks. But some little-known risk factors are as threatening to your heart as those you’re familiar with—in some cases, doubling your risk for disease.

Here are six of these “secret” risk factors, revealed by recent scientific studies—and how to reduce your risk…

BISPHENOL-A (BPA)

BPA is a chemical frequently found in food and beverage containers, such as plastic bottles and the lining of metal cans. It can harm your arteries.

New research: In a study of 591 people published in PLoS One, those with the highest urinary levels of BPA were the most likely to have advanced coronary artery disease—severely narrowed arteries ripe for the blockage that triggers a heart attack.

What happens: BPA sparks the chronic inflammation that drives arterial damage and heart disease.

My recommendation: Reduce your exposure to BPA. Avoid canned foods as much as possible because cans may have an epoxy liner that leaches BPA into food. Or look for cans labeled BPA-free. Drink water out of glass or stainless steel bottles that don’t have a plastic liner. Don’t microwave food in plastic or use plastic containers for hot foods or liquids—the heat can cause BPA to leach out. Exception: Soft or cloudy-colored plastics typically do not contain BPA—they usually are marked on the bottom with the recycling labels #1, #2 or #4.

SHIFT WORK

Dozens of studies have linked shift work—an ongoing pattern of work that is not roughly 9 am to 5 pm—to higher heart disease risk, but the link has always been speculative. The latest study—a so-called “meta-analysis” of previous research—changes the shift work/heart disease hypothesis into scientific fact.

New research: The study, published in BMJ, analyzed data from 34 studies involving more than two million people and found that shift work was linked to a 23% increased risk for heart attack. The researchers concluded that 7% of all heart attacks—about one out of every 14—are directly attributable to shift work.

What happens: Shift work disrupts the normal sleep-wake cycle, throwing every system in your body out of balance, including the autonomic nervous system, which regulates heartbeat. An irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) can cause a type of heart attack.

My recommendation: A key way to balance your autonomic nervous system is to increase your intake of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as wild-caught fatty fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel, tuna), grass-fed red meats, free-range poultry, walnuts and flaxseed oil. Also, take a daily fish oil supplement that delivers one to two grams of the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA.

If your work schedule includes shift work, pay attention to other heart disease risk factors and go for regular screenings.

DIABETES DRUGS

A generic, low-cost class of antidiabetes drugs called sulfonylureas (glipizide, glyburide and glimepiride) help control type 2 diabetes by stimulating the pancreas to produce insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, but these drugs can be dangerous to your heart.

New research: Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic analyzed data from nearly 24,000 patients who had taken either a sulfonylurea drug or metformin, another generic, low-cost drug used to control diabetes. Compared with metformin, the sulfonylureas were linked to a 50% greater risk for death.

What happens: It’s likely that sulfonylurea drugs are toxic to the body’s mitochondria, the energy-generating structures in every cell that are crucial to health and longevity.

My recommendation: If you’re taking a sulfonylurea drug, ask your doctor to switch you to metformin. Even better: In a major, multiyear study, losing weight and exercising outperformed metformin in regulating blood sugar.

FATTY DEPOSITS AROUND THE EYES

New research: In a 35-year study involving nearly 11,000 people, researchers found that those with three out of four signs of visible aging had a 39% increased risk for heart disease and a 57% increased risk for heart attack.

The four signs (in both men and women) are receding hairline at the temples…crown top baldness…earlobe creases…and fatty deposits around the eyes.

Important: Of these four signs, fatty deposits around the eyes were the strongest predictor of heart attack and heart disease.

My recommendation: If your doctor finds at least three of these risk factors—or just fatty deposits around your eyes—he/she should schedule you for regular screenings for heart disease.

EARLY MENOPAUSE

Menopause, and its accompanying drop in heart-protecting estrogen, increases the risk for heart disease. So it’s no surprise that early menopause (starting at age 46 or younger) is a risk factor.

New research: In an eight-year study published in Menopause, researchers found that women who enter menopause early are twice as likely to suffer from heart disease and stroke.

My recommendation: There are several ways menopausal women can lower their risk for heart disease…

• Eat more noninflammatory foods, such as fresh, organic vegetables and fruits and wild-caught fatty fish.
• Minimize your intake of inflammatory simple sugars (white bread, pastries, cookies, pastas, candies, etc.).
• Exercise regularly, such as a daily 30-to-60-minute walk.
• In addition to a multivitamin, take daily supplements that strengthen the heart and circulatory system, including CoQ10 (60 mg to 100 mg)…fish oil (one to two grams)…vitamin C (1,000 mg)…and magnesium (400 mg to 800 mg).
• Reduce stress with meditation, yoga and/or tai chi. Other ways to reduce stress include socializing with friends and doing hobbies you enjoy.

PSORIASIS

The chronic inflammatory disease of psoriasis causes patches of dry, itchy skin. A new study shows that it also damages arteries.

New research: In a study in Journal of Investigative Dermatology, researchers found that chronic inflammation of the skin is accompanied by chronic inflammation in blood vessels. And in a study published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging, researchers found that treating psoriasis patients with the anti-inflammatory drug adalimumab decreased inflammation in the arteries (carotid and ascending aorta) often involved in heart attack and stroke.

My recommendation: All psoriasis patients should go on a gluten-free diet, eliminating inflammation-sparking grains such as wheat, rye and barley. They also should take inflammation-reducing omega-3 fatty acids (three to four grams daily). In addition, people with psoriasis should be screened regularly for heart disease.

Source: Stephen Sinatra, MD, board-certified cardiologist and assistant clinical professor of medicine at University of Connecticut School of Medicine in Farmington and a fellow in the American College of Cardiology and the American College of Nutrition. He also is founder of HeartMDInstitute.com, an informational Web site dedicated to promoting public awareness of integrative medicine. Dr. Sinatra is author or coauthor of 12 books, including The Healing Kitchen (Bottom Line Books). www.BottomLinePublications.com/HealingKitchen

http://www.bottomlinepublications.com/content/article/health-a-healing/hidden-causes-of-heart-diseasesix-little-known-risk-factors?

Uses of Hemp Seed Oil

The 10 symptoms of vitamin D deficiency ...

The 10 symptoms of vitamin D deficiency you need to recognize

Friday, February 10, 2012 by: Aurora Geib

(NaturalNews) Taking vitamin D while still young may be good for the body in the long run. Results from a study conducted by the University of Zurich have confirmed that sufficient amounts of vitamin D taken consistently are necessary to maintain bone health.

Many people believe that maintaining healthy eating habits is enough, but only few foods naturally contain significant levels of vitamin D. According to Dr. Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari, a faculty of UZH, in order to get adequate levels of vitamin D through diet alone, two servings of fatty fish like salmon or mackerel would have to be consumed every day. It is thus necessary to increase vitamin D levels in the body through sufficient sun exposure and supplementation in order to use the sunshine vitamin's full potential for maintaining proper body functioning.

This misconception about maintaining D levels through diet does have a degree of ground since vitamin D is not a stand alone vitamin. To perform many functions, vitamin D works in cooperation with other vitamins like magnesium, which can be found in leafy green vegetables such as spinach. This unique characteristic of vitamin D has contributed to the management of many chronic illnesses.

The many faces of vitamin D

Decades ago, health care professionals thought vitamin D was only good for keeping healthy bones and teeth. Recent advances in science, however, have put this vitamin in the spotlight by revealing its multifaceted role in the proper functioning of the human body and its ability to lower the risk of illnesses not formerly associated with it.

Despite the recent revelations about the potential of vitamin D, it appears that not everyone appreciates this discovery. The current lifestyle of working indoors has contributed to the growing number of vitamin D deficiency cases worldwide. This is compounded by the fact that not everyone is aware that he or she may be vitamin D deficient.

Am I vitamin D deficient?

The best way to discover vitamin D deficiency is to take a blood test that will measure the level of the vitamin in your blood. You can either ask your doctor to administer the test or buy a home test kit do the test yourself. However, you are certainly vitamin D deficient if you have any of the following ailments, and you need to consult with your doctor regarding your preventive, as well as curative, options as soon as possible.

1.) The flu - In a study published in the Cambridge Journals, it was discovered that vitamin D deficiency predisposes children to respiratory diseases. An intervention study conducted showed that vitamin D reduces the incidence of respiratory infections in children.

2.) Muscle weakness - According to Michael F. Holick, a leading vitamin D expert, muscle weakness is usually caused by vitamin D deficiency because for skeletal muscles to function properly, their vitamin D receptors must be sustained by vitamin D.

3.) Psoriasis - In a study published by the UK PubMed central, it was discovered that synthetic vitamin D analogues were found useful in the treatment of psoriasis.

4.) Chronic kidney disease - According to Holick, patients with advanced chronic kidney diseases (especially those requiring dialysis) are unable to make the active form of vitamin D. These individuals need to take 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or one of its calcemic analogues to support calcium metabolism, decrease the risk of renal bone disease and regulate parathyroid hormone levels.

5.) Diabetes - A study conducted in Finland was featured in Lancet.com in which 10,366 children were given 2000 international units (IU)/day of vitamin D3 per day during their first day of life. The children were monitored for 31 years and in all of them, the risk of type 1 diabetes was reduced by 80 percent.

6.) Asthma - Vitamin D may reduce the severity of asthma attacks. Research conducted in Japan revealed that asthma attacks in school children were significantly lowered in those subjects taking a daily vitamin D supplement of 1200 IU a day.

7.) Periodontal disease - Those suffering from this chronic gum disease that causes swelling and bleeding gums should consider raising their vitamin D levels to produce defensins and cathelicidin, compounds that contain microbial properties and lower the number of bacteria in the mouth.

8.) Cardiovascular disease - Congestive heart failure is associated with vitamin D deficiency. Research conducted at Harvard University among nurses found that women with low vitamin D levels (17 ng/m [42 nmol/L]) had a 67 percent increased risk of developing hypertension.

9.) Schizophrenia and Depression - These disorders have been linked to vitamin D deficiency. In a study, it was discovered that maintaining sufficient vitamin D among pregnant women and during childhood was necessary to satisfy the vitamin D receptor in the brain integral for brain development and mental function maintenance in later life.

10.) Cancer - Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington DC discovered a connection between high vitamin D intake and reduced risk of breast cancer. These findings, presented at the American Association for Cancer Research, revealed that increased doses of the sunshine vitamin were linked to a 75 percent reduction in overall cancer growth and 50 percent reduction in tumor cases among those already having the disease. Of interest was the capacity of vitamin supplementation to help control the development and growth of breast cancer specially estrogen-sensitive breast cancer.

Prevention is proactive

These various health conditions associated with vitamin D deficiency need not be something to fear. A proactive approach to prevention can assist in the avoidance of the many chronic diseases associated with vitamin D deficiency. For one, thousands of dollars can be saved, not to mention the peace of mind, simply at the cost of taking a walk under the sun. Save the umbrellas for the rainy days.

Sources for this article:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,510299,00.html
http://journals.cambridge.org
http://www.vitamindcouncil.com
http://www.naturalnews.com/032222_breast_cancer_vitamin_D.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/035089_vitamin_D_deficiency_signs_symptoms.html

Help Your Body Win The Battle Against Autoimmune Disease

December 16, 2011 by Dr. Isaac Eliaz

We face an epidemic of autoimmune diseases, medical conditions that cause the body to attack itself and destroy its own tissues. Everyone who lives in today’s polluted world — exposed to toxins at home, outside and just about everywhere in the environment — is at risk. But you can take natural steps to regulate your immune system and help it ward off disease, not cause it.

Well-Designed Immunity

While your body is designed to defend against a host of environmental invaders, it cannot completely withstand the adverse effects of poor diet, chronic stress and toxic buildup. These common factors can contribute to a group of serious health problems of epidemic proportions, including autoimmune (AI) disease, which is on the rise.

AI diseases comprise more than 100 unique types, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, celiac disease and many others. They are all characterized by inflammatory immune responses that cause the body to turn against its own systems and attack healthy organs and tissues.

You Are At Risk

Many AI diseases almost conclusively are proven to be linked directly to environmental pollution and the everyday poisons found in common foods, electronics, cookware, clothing, body products, mattresses, etc. The rising number of AI cases, particularly surrounding areas of heavier toxin exposure, can no longer be ignored.

At one time, your risk of AI was thought to be determined entirely by your genetics. However, research emerging from the new field of immunotoxicology — the study of the effects of toxins on our immune systems — is debunking that assumption.

While experts still believe that a genetic predisposition to AI disease places someone at a higher risk, data from immunotoxicology studies at top research institutes demonstrate that the epidemic increase of AI disease is being driven by our exposure to an increasingly toxic world. That is why it’s so important for us to actively protect ourselves from the serious health effects that can result.

The Nature Of Autoimmune Disease

In general terms, AI diseases are described as communication breakdowns between our body’s cells, where immune cells can no longer distinguish between our own healthy tissue and a harmful invader. This relates to deregulation of the part of the immune system known as our TH-1 and TH-2 T Helper Cells pathways. With AI diseases, TH-2 cells are over-expressed, overproducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, including those called IL-6.

Autoimmune Diseases In Men And Women

Women are three times more likely to develop an AI disease than men, which is a fact that may never be completely understood by conventional medicine. Examining this issue from holistic as well as biological perspectives can offer some possible insights as to why 75 percent of the 24 million Americans who suffer from AI diseases are women.

From a holistic viewpoint, we can focus on issues of stress, fast-paced lifestyles, exhaustion from multi-tasking careers with parenting, and other lifestyle complications. From a biological perspective, women can have a potentially larger presence of accumulated toxins which bind to estrogen receptors and distort cellular immune signaling, mutate DNA and disrupt vital functions.

Millions of American men are also victims. Certain AI diseases that develop in men tend to be more severe and include conditions like type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, among others. The effects of these AI diseases — including the nerve or vascular damage associated with diabetes — can also contribute to other problems such as impotence, or erectile dysfunction (ED).

Most researchers agree that sex hormones play a large role in the difference between how AI diseases affect men and women. Many immune cells have receptors for sex hormones. When sex hormones or toxins that mimic sex hormones bind to these immune cells, they can change the cell’s behavior. Also, men tend to have a weaker inflammatory immune response than women. Since inflammation is a key component of many autoimmune diseases, the effects in women tend to be more serious.

It’s important to note that both men and women who live and work among environmental pollution and are frequently exposed to pesticides, heavy metals and other pollutants on a daily basis are up to four times more likely to develop an AI disease.

Treatment Protocols

For numerous reasons, many AI diseases have been difficult to diagnose and manage, with no known Western medical cures. Conventional therapies focus on controlling flare-ups with anti-inflammatory drugs, immune suppressors, antiviral drugs and other medications. This is a symptomatic approach that does not address the root cause of the AI disease and can also lead to severe and debilitating side effects.

As an integrative physician, my strategy for managing AI disease is to focus on balance and regulation. Since the immune system has lost control of its regulatory mechanisms, the aim is to help re-establish these critical biological cycles.
Here are my top recommendations:

• Regulate your sleep patterns: Follow a strict sleep schedule to give your body the rest it needs. Going to bed early and at about the same time each night are important steps in helping to regulate other systems in your body, including your immune system.

• Engage in regular exercise: Follow a regular exercise regimen to help maintain proper regulation of immune and other functions. Simple 15-minute walks, as well as yoga and Qi Gong, are excellent forms of exercise that help reduce stress and maintain healthy circulation.

• Follow a strictly whole foods diet: Diet is critical in the management of AI disease. Food allergies to items such as gluten, sugar and dairy can play a large role in triggering flare-ups. Managing AI disease through strict adherence to a healthy, unprocessed diet has proven successful in reducing the severity and frequency of flare-ups.

• Natural Supplements: When selecting nutritional supplements to manage AI diseases, focus on regulation and balance of the immune system, rather than trying to avoid overstimulation of immune responses. This is where medicinal mushrooms play a large, though commonly misunderstood, role. Medicinal mushrooms are immune regulators that help educate immune cells and direct appropriate immune responses, which are critical in the management of AI diseases. Botanicals that regulate inflammation are also critical in the management of AI diseases, along with high-powered antioxidants to scavenge free radicals and soothe inflammatory responses.

• Detoxification: Gentle detoxification through the removal of heavy metals and toxins represents one of the most essential protocols for the management of any AI disease. For natural detoxification, I recommend a combination of modified citrus pectin and modified alginates, which have been proven to safely remove heavy metals and environmental toxins from the body. Avoid further exposure by choosing natural, organic alternatives to conventional food, body and household products that contain harmful chemicals.

Even though modern medicine has yet to offer a cure for AI diseases, it is important to note that these illnesses can often be successfully managed through proper regulation of the body’s response systems using diet, healthy lifestyle patterns and nutritional supplementation.

http://www.easyhealthoptions.com/

Possible Interactions with: Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)

Interactions:

If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use folic acid supplements without first talking to your health care provider.

Antibiotics, Tetracycline -- Folic acid should not be taken at the same time as the antibiotic tetracycline because it interferes with the absorption and effectiveness of this medication. Folic acid either alone or in combination with other B vitamins should be taken at different times from tetracycline. (All vitamin B complex supplements act in this way and should therefore be taken at different times from tetracycline.)

Drugs That Lower Levels of Folic Acid -- These drugs may interfere with the body's absorption of folate, and may mean you need to take a folic acid supplement. Talk to your doctor first.

• Antacids, H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors
• Bile acid sequestrants
• Carbamazepine
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Sulfasalazine
• Triamterene

When taken for long periods of time, these medications, as well as other anti-inflammatory medicines, can increase the body's need for folic acid.

Birth Control Medications, Anticonvulsants, and Cholesterol-lowering Medications -- Birth control medications, anticonvulsants for seizures (namely, phenytoin and carbamazapine), and cholesterol-lowering medications (namely, bile acid sequestrants, including cholestyramine, colestipol, and colesevelam) may reduce the levels of folic acid in the blood as well as the body's ability to use this vitamin. Extra folate when taking any of these medications may be recommended by your health care provider. When taking bile acid sequestrants for cholesterol, you should take folate at a different time of day.

Methotrexate -- Methotrexate, a medication used to treat cancer, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and psoriasis, reduces the amount of folic acid in the body. People who take methotrexate for RA or psoriasis may be prescribed higher doses of folic acid, which helps reduce the side effects of methotrexate. People taking methotrexate for cancer, however, should avoid folic acid supplements unless directed by their doctor, because folic acid may interfere with methotrexate's effects on cancer.

Drug Interactions:

Acetaminophen-containing MedicationsAnticonvulsantsAspirinBirth Control MedicationsCholesterol-lowering MedicationsCimetidineIbuprofenMetformin-containing MedicationsPentobarbitalPhenobarbitalSulfasalazineTetracycline

Alternative Names:

Folacin; Folate; Folic Acid; Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)

• Reviewed last on: 9/6/2007
• Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D., private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/vitamin-b9-000993.htm